TN hub of auto sector in 5 years: CM

CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday told the Assembly that she would take all steps to make the State and the city a global hub for the automobile and auto component sector.Intervening during the address of DMDK member K Pandiarajan on the discussion on the demand for grant to the industries department, Jayalalithaa said during the next five years, Chennai would be a global hub for the automobile sector.When Panidarajan said the allocation for industries and the MSMEs together constituted only 1.8 per cent of the total budget size of `1.01 lakh-crore, the CM said, “The allocation of the State for industries is not important. One should see how much the industries invest in the State. The discussion is only on the demand for grant to the industries department and not on the budget.”Minister for Industries S P Velumani said it was only during the AIADMK regime that a host of companies like Ford set up their units in the State. Also, through the innovative single window system, clearances were given for 10 different things like power under a single roof. “States like Gujarat followed the innovative move,” he pointed out.Continuing, Pandiarajan said steps should be taken to halt industry migration. “Ford is setting up its new unit in Gujarat,” he added.At this, Jayalalithaa said, “The member is not as aware of Tamil Nadu as much as of Gujarat and Maharashtra. Companies like Hyundai, Nissan, BMW, besides Saint Gobain and Mahindra World City, have invested thousands of crores here.”